{"id":18961,"date":"2020-12-16T02:30:38","date_gmt":"2020-12-16T07:30:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thepapergown.zocdoc.com\/?p=18961"},"modified":"2023-03-21T14:41:52","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T19:41:52","slug":"the-big-covid-vaccine-questions-answered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/the-big-covid-vaccine-questions-answered\/","title":{"rendered":"Your COVID Vaccine Questions, Answered"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>The information included in this article was current as of publication, however, information changes rapidly regarding Covid-19 and may be out of date.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The COVID-19 vaccine rollout is the largest mass-immunization effort in US history \u2014 and there&#8217;s a lot to keep track of. Between finding your place in line and knowing which vaccines are available, getting a handle on the relevant info can be overwhelming. So let\u2019s start with the Big Questions. Here\u2019s a breakdown of what you need to know about the COVID vaccine, and then some.<\/span><br \/>\n<a name=\"when-can-i-get-a-covid-vaccine\"><\/a><\/p>\n<hr class=\"squiggle\" \/>\n<h3>When can I get a COVID vaccine?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the past month, eligibility has expanded significantly across the country. Earlier this month, President Biden encouraged all states to open up vaccine appointments to everyone 16 and older by April 19. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2021\/us\/covid-19-vaccine-eligibility.html\">Most states have already hit this goal<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>That means now is the time to book an appointment for a shot if you haven\u2019t already.<\/p>\n<h3>How do I make an appointment for my shot?<\/h3>\n<p>Each state is in charge of its own COVID vaccine distribution plan. There&#8217;s no single, centralized hub for where all Americans can book vaccine appointments. Some state health department sites have tools to help you find nearby vaccination sites and schedule appointments \u2014 find yours via the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/index.html\">CDC\u2019s Vaccines for COVID-19 webpage<\/a>. The CDC page also links to <a href=\"https:\/\/vaccinefinder.org\/search\/\">VaccineFinder.org, <\/a>which has up-to-date information on vaccine availability by zip code and links to online schedulers on pharmacy and clinic websites. Expect these online schedulers to get busy; you may need to revisit them frequently to claim a time, especially as eligibility is expanded to all adults.<\/p>\n<p>When checking appointment sites for availability, be sure to have pertinent health information handy. After you see an opening, you might only have a few minutes (or less) to book. Be patient and persistent, and pay attention to local news for announcements about new locations offering shots.<\/p>\n<h3>A few useful websites for finding and booking appointments<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vaccinefinder.org\/search\/\">VaccineFinder.org<\/a>, operated by the CDC and the Boston Children\u2019s Hospital, with zip code-based information about vaccine availability and links to online schedulers<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/vaccine\">Zocdoc.com\/vaccine<\/a>, which checks eligibility and can be used to schedule appointments in several locations<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/CVS.com\/immunizations\/covid-19-vaccine\">CVS.com\/immunizations\/covid-19-vaccine<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/findcare\/vaccination\/covid-19\">Walgreens.com\/findcare\/vaccination\/covid-1<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.walgreens.com\/findcare\/vaccination\/covid-19\">9<\/a>, the pharmacy chains\u2019 eligibility and appointment portals<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vaccinespotter.org\/\">VaccineSpotter.org<\/a>, which aggregates pharmacies&#8217; vaccine appointment availability in real-time by zip code<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>How are the vaccines administered<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To be maximally effective, the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/different-vaccines\/Pfizer-BioNTech.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pfizer vaccine<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> requires<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/how-to-get-shots-if-youre-terrified-of-needles\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">two injections<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> into the muscle, administered three weeks apart. The<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/different-vaccines\/Moderna.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moderna vaccine<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also requires two shots, but they&#8217;re administered four weeks apart.<\/span><br \/>\n<a name=\"is-one-vaccine-better-than-another\"><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vaccines\/covid-19\/eua\/janssen.html\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Janssen vaccine from Johnson &amp; Johnson<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> only requires one dose.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Is one vaccine better than another? Should I hold out for the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, rather than get the Johnson &amp; Johnson?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On April 13, the CDC recommended a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/04\/13\/us\/politics\/johnson-johnson-vaccine-blood-clots-fda-cdc.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pause on the use of the Johnson &amp; Johnson (J&amp;J) vaccine<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> after the emergence of blood clotting disorders in six recipients. So far, more than 7 million people in the US have received the J&amp;J shot. The pause is expected to last only \u201ca matter of days,\u201d according to Dr. Janet Woodcock, the acting commissioner of the FDA, and will determine if the vaccine caused the blood clots.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the J&amp;J is available again, consider any of the vaccines\u2019 potential risks in the context of their benefits:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Pfizer and Modern vaccines are both about 95 percent effective at preventing COVID illness after two doses.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>In US trials, the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine was shown to be about 72 percent effective against moderate COVID infections and 86 percent effective against severe infections.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Differences aside, experts say the best vaccine to get is the one offered to you.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you can get it, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">any one of these three vaccines would be great,&#8221; says Dr. Ed Septimus, an infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at Texas A&amp;M. &#8220;All of them will provide the protection we need, and the sooner we get all people vaccinated, the better. The sooner we stamp down <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[virus] <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">activity in our community, the less opportunity there is for variants to emerge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Specific to J&amp;J, it\u2019s important to recognize how effective it really is against COVID.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA lot of people are losing sight of the fact that all we were hoping for was at least 50 percent efficacy for a vaccine,\u201d says Katelyn Jetelina, an assistant professor at UTHealth School of Public Health in Dallas. \u201cJ&amp;J is already outperforming what we were shooting for.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The most significant finding from the J&amp;J trial is the vaccine\u2019s 100 percent effectiveness against COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths. \u201cThat\u2019s what is most important to pay attention to \u2014 the rate at which people are in the hospital and die,\u201d Jetelina says, \u201cand J&amp;J is extremely effective [by this measure], just like Moderna and Pfizer are.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Also, vaccine efficacy is not an apples-to-apples comparison; clinical trials for the three vaccines had some differences. For one thing, Pfizer and Moderna both tested for symptomatic COVID infections (although not in the same ways), while J&amp;J assessed protection against moderate-to-severe COVID illness. Also, the Pfizer and Moderna clinical trials ended before researchers detected newer coronavirus variants.<\/p>\n<p>As Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine CDC, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pressherald.com\/2021\/02\/24\/updated-qa-should-i-be-picky-about-vaccines-and-how-do-i-remove-myself-from-mainehealths-waitlist\/\">press briefing<\/a>, \u201cIt\u2019s not vaccine against vaccine \u2013 it\u2019s vaccine against virus.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The J&amp;J vaccine has some advantages. Most obviously, \u201cit\u2019s a single-dose vaccine, so you don\u2019t need to scramble for a second dose,\u201d says Seattle-based Dr. Chunbai Zhang, medical director of VA Puget Sound Health Care System. It can also be stored at room temperature, potentially making distribution easier. And, based on clinical data, the J&amp;J shot appears to have milder side effects than the other two vaccines.<\/p>\n<p>Collectively, we\u2019ll fare better if more people get vaccinated with a range of excellent to great vaccines vs. fewer people getting only the most effective vaccines.<\/p>\n<h3>Do I really need a second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/what-to-know-about-the-second-shot\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">two shots<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to work the way they&#8217;re supposed to. Based on clinical trial results, the Pfizer vaccine was estimated to be 52.4 percent effective at preventing COVID illness after one dose, and 95 percent effective after two. The results were similar for Moderna. A recent <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2021\/02\/22\/health\/uk-phe-study-pfizer-biontech-intl-gbr\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UK study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that one dose of the Pfizer vaccine reduced the risk of infection by 72 percent after three weeks \u2014\u00a0good news about the effectiveness of the vaccines, but not conclusive as to the necessity, or lack thereof, of the second dose. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whenever possible, the second dose should be administered 21 or 28 days after the first dose (for Pfizer and Moderna respectively). But the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vaccines\/covid-19\/info-by-product\/clinical-considerations.html\">CDC permits<\/a> waiting up to six weeks (42 days) between doses in situations where it&#8217;s not feasible to adhere to the recommended schedule. Still, skipping the second shot altogether, for any vaccine with a two-dose regimen, isn\u2019t wise. In fact, the government<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/covid-vaccine-two-shots-undermine-efforts\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">paying vaccination<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> providers more money<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to administer second doses as an incentive to make sure patients come back.<\/span><br \/>\n<a name=\"is-the-vaccine-actually-free\"><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you get both doses, it <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">t<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">akes <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/expect\/after.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">one to two weeks<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for the vaccine to become maximally effective against COVID.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Why does the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine only require one shot?<\/h3>\n<p>The Johnson &amp; Johnson (J&amp;J) single-dose vaccine uses an adenovirus, the type of virus that causes the common cold, as a messenger to deliver instructions to the body\u2019s cells. That differs from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology to deliver genetic material to cells with instructions for making a non-infectious piece of the coronavirus\u2019s spike protein.<\/p>\n<p>By design, the J&amp;J vaccine is a single dose \u2014 though the company is researching the efficacy and safety of a second dose, which would be administered eight weeks after the first. Results are expected in May.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe big question,&#8221; Jetelina says, is &#8220;what do we do if we see that two doses are more effective?\u201d If Johnson &amp; Johnson\u2019s trials of the two-dose vaccination produce a significant increase in effectiveness \u2014 to something closer to 95 percent \u2014 you should expect to hear news of the availability of second shots for those who already received the initial J&amp;J vaccine.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Is the vaccine actually free?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The vaccine is supposed to be free for everyone in the US, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">no matter where you get vaccinated or what type of insurance you have (or don\u2019t have). (Your taxpayer dollars are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/faq.html\">paying for vaccine doses.<\/a>) While it seems likely that COVID vaccination <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cms.gov\/newsroom\/press-releases\/trump-administration-acts-ensure-coverage-life-saving-covid-19-vaccines-therapeutics\">will remain free<\/a> through at least the end of the calendar year, the federal government hasn&#8217;t said so explicitly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you have insurance, you&#8217;ll be asked for your insurance information \u2014 but you should not incur any out-of-pocket costs. If you don&#8217;t have insurance, you&#8217;ll still be able to get the vaccine free of charge.<\/p>\n<p>Now for the fine print: Some vaccine providers may charge an administrative fee for giving the shot, but patients are not responsible for paying it. Instead, providers are supposed to bill private insurance plans (most of which cover the full cost of vaccination) or the government (via the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhs.gov\/coronavirus\/cares-act-provider-relief-fund\/index.html\">CARES Act Provider Relief Fund).<\/a><\/p>\n<p>When booking your vaccine appointment <a name=\"will-the-vaccine-work-against-new-covid-variants\"><\/a>, don\u2019t hesitate to contact the vaccine provider directly to ask about charges. Be straightforward if you have any cost concerns; money should not be a barrier to getting your shots.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you think you&#8217;ve been charged for COVID vaccination incorrectly, reach out to your local public health department.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Will the vaccines work against new COVID variants?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently available COVID vaccines do recognize, and thus confer some degree of protection against, newer strains of the coronavirus, such as those found in the UK and South Africa, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2021\/01\/19\/bidens-new-cdc-director-says-shes-optimistic-covid-vaccines-will-work-against-new-variants.html\">director of the CDC<\/a>. Though experts don\u2019t know just how effective the vaccines are against these more recent, highly contagious variants, they do agree they\u2019re the best defense against them. \u201cThe vaccines should be effective against variants because the variants are similar to the initial strain,\u201d Zhang says. \u201cThe mutations share enough of their composition with the initial strain for a vaccinated immune system to recognize them.\u201d<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vaccines currently in development \u2014 including boosters from Pfizer and Moderna \u2014 are being tested against newer strains of COVID, but your best bet for limiting your risk for a serious infection is still the vaccine available to you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note, too, that there isn&#8217;t any<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> evidence that the vaccinations themselves are spurring the mutation of COVID and creating new variants. The virus \u2014 including mutant strains \u2014 spreads through the population faster when fewer people are vaccinated, so the more of us who get our vaccine shots, the better chance we have against all strains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>These vaccines were developed so quickly. How do we know they&#8217;re safe?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After nearly 22 million Americans had been vaccinated with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the CDC reported that the shots are as safe <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/health\/2021\/01\/28\/covid-19-vaccines-cdc-safety-data-pfizer-moderna-coronavirus\/4281434001\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as the trials indicated<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clinical testing for the vaccines, though expedited, has been rigorous; any approved vaccine has been tested on tens of thousands of volunteers. The FDA requires vaccine manufacturers to provide two months of <a name=\"what-should-i-know-about-the-side-effects\"><\/a>safety data in their applications for emergency use. That\u2019s true for currently available vaccines and any additional ones the FDA OKs for emergency use.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The April 13 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/04\/13\/us\/politics\/johnson-johnson-vaccine-blood-clots-fda-cdc.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pause on the use of the Johnson &amp; Johnson<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> vaccine is intended to allow the CDC and FDA to examine possible links between the vaccine and a blood clotting disorder that emerged in six recipients. They will also determine whether to continue to authorize use of the vaccine for all adults or modify the authorization, possibly limiting it to certain population groups.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>What should I know about side effects?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, six recipients of the J&amp;J vaccine developed serious blood clotting disorders, resulting in one death and a pause of the use of the vaccine while the CDC and FDA examine a possible correlation. The risk of developing dangerous blood clots for people who have received the J&amp;J vaccine is very low, according to the CDC, but you should seek medical treatment if you develop severe headaches, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the vast majority of people, the most important thing <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to know is that it\u2019s impossible to get COVID from vaccination because, among other things, the vaccines don\u2019t contain any live virus. But you might experience mild side effects from your shot(s).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vaccine trials for Pfizer, Moderna, and J&amp;J found that mild-to-moderate side effects are relatively common; for Pfizer and Moderna, side effects are more likely to develop after the second shot. J&amp;J\u2019s side effects are reportedly less likely and, when occurring, milder than those of Pfizer&#8217;s and Moderna&#8217;s vaccines. More recently, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/johnson-johnson-vaccine-georgia-shut-down-side-effects\/\">recipients of the J&amp;J shot in several states reported side effects<\/a> including dizziness, nausea, and fainting, though these symptoms are still very rare.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anecdotal reports from people <\/span>who\u2019ve been vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna support the study findings. Side effects tend to last one or two days and resemble symptoms of COVID itself, in addition to typical vaccine side effects: Pain, swelling, and redness at the injection site; whole arm soreness; fatigue; headaches; muscle and joint pain; fever; chills. While these post-shot symptoms might be unpleasant and unnerving, they aren\u2019t dangerous. In fact, they\u2019re a sign that your immune system is responding to the vaccine the way it\u2019s supposed to. (Not having side effects is normal too.)<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/03\/08\/health\/vaccine-side-effects-women-men.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">data indicating<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that women are more likely than men to experience worse side effects from the vaccines, possibly due to several factors. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/03\/03\/health\/covid-skin-side-effects.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doctors have also reported<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> delayed skin reactions to the Moderna vaccine \u2014\u00a0arms turning red, sore, itchy, and swollen a week or so after the shot. These reactions appear to be harmless.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep in mind, too, that you should be required to wait for at least 15 minutes after a vaccination shot before leaving the administration site. This is to make sure you don\u2019t have any serious side effects, including an allergic reaction (see \u201cShould I be concerned about the possibility of an allergic reaction?\u201d below).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data on side effects is being tracked closely as vaccinations continue to roll out. Once you get vaccinated, you can report your own side effects, however mild, using the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/safety\/vsafe.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CDC\u2019s V-safe app<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The app will also send you a reminder when it\u2019s time to get your second dose.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the US, according to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/news\/coronavirus\/article248905979.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the CDC,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> no severe side effects, aka \u201cadverse events,\u201d have been reported as a result of COVID vaccines. An adverse event means a long-term or serious illness, hospitalization or death <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">caused by<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> vaccination. As more and more people get vaccinated, the possibility of an adverse event occurring increases \u2014 but the likelihood of any one person experiencing one is very, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">very<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> low.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That said, if you do have an adverse event, you should talk to a healthcare provider and report it through the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vaers.hhs.gov\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Can I take pain relievers for the potential side effects?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may have heard from friends or relatives who have received their second Pfizer or Moderna shots that they did, indeed, experience some uncomfortable side effects \u2014 particularly pain and soreness in the arm where the shot was administered. Though taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol) if and when you feel significant discomfort <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">after<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> your shot is OK, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vaccines\/covid-19\/info-by-product\/clinical-considerations.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CDC recommends against taking anything before your shot<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as these medications\u2019 impact on the vaccine\u2019s efficacy is unknown.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou want to maximize your immune system\u2019s chance to develop a counter-attack to COVID with the vaccination,\u201d\u00a0 Zhang says. \u201cYour body\u2019s immune system should be fully awake when you\u2019re getting vaccinated. You don\u2019t want to numb it with a pill just before provoking it to get a response.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Should I be concerned about the possibility of an allergic reaction?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a very small number of cases, each of the three vaccines has triggered anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. (The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2021\/02\/19\/cdc-says-these-are-the-most-common-side-effects-people-report-after-getting-covid-vaccine.html\">CDC reported<\/a> 16 incidents caused by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/volumes\/70\/wr\/mm7004e1.htm\">Moderna<\/a> vaccine and 46 due to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mmwr\/volumes\/70\/wr\/mm7002e1.htm\">Pfizer<\/a> vaccine out of a combined 13.7 million doses administered before January 13; 2 recipients of the J&amp;J vaccine had allergic reactions during the trials.)<a name=\"who-shouldnt-get-vaccinated\"><\/a> Accordingly, the CDC reiterated that vaccine administrators should observe anyone with a history of anaphylaxis for 30 minutes afterward and have epinephrine (EpiPens) on hand in case of an allergic reaction.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Who <i>shouldn\u2019t<\/i> get vaccinated?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At this point, the only group expressly excluded from the CDC\u2019s \u201cOK to vaccinate\u201d recommendation is kids 16 and younger.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>While initial COVID vaccine trials did not include pregnant women and immunocompromised people, there is now some data supporting the vaccines\u2019 safety and efficacy for these groups. A study published in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ajog.org\/article\/S0002-9378(21)00187-3\/fulltext\">The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology<\/a>, for instance, shows that the vaccines are safe and effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women and may even offer some protection for their babies.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"do-i-need-the-vaccine-if-i-had-covid\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies with children are also underway. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/fauci-vaccines-kids\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Fauci<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, vaccines for kids as young as first graders could be authorized by September.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Do I need to get the vaccine if I&#8217;ve already had COVID?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pierre says you should get the vaccine even if you\u2019ve had COVID previously. While you most likely developed antibodies, experts don\u2019t know how effective those antibodies are against COVID, or how long they last. What they do know is that getting vaccinated confers stronger and longer-lasting protection against COVID than getting sick with COVID does.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For people who&#8217;ve had COVID, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/02\/19\/health\/covid-vaccine-single-dose.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">recent studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show that even one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine greatly amplifies the amount of antibodies in the blood, conferring protection against multiple coronavirus variants. While this research points to the possibility that one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine might be enough for those who&#8217;ve had COVID, the CDC <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/faq.html\">still recommends<\/a> a two-dose regimen for everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve had COVID and were treated with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, wait 90 days after the initial onset of symptoms to begin vaccination.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Is it possible to get the COVID vaccine and still get COVID?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">COVID immunization makes getting severe COVID very unlikely, but not impossible. (For comparison\u2019s sake, both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are 95 percent effective in preventing severe COVID illness, whereas a seasonal flu shot is about<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/vaccines-work\/vaccineeffect.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">40 percent effective<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on average \u2014 and definitely worth getting every year.) There is growing evidence the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencenews.org\/article\/coronavirus-covid-vaccine-moderna-pfizer-transmission-disease\">vaccines do prevent infection<\/a> as well as disease, but this has yet to be definitively proven. That means there\u2019s still a possibility that someone who\u2019s been vaccinated could still be a silent carrier and unknowingly infect others.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What we don\u2019t know yet is how well COVID vaccination protects people against <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">asymptomatic<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> infections. While<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucsf.edu\/news\/2021\/01\/419691\/covid-19-vaccine-fact-vs-fiction-expert-weighs-common-fears\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">experts believe<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that the COVID vaccines \u2014 like most vaccines \u2014 should reduce asymptomatic disease, this has yet to be proven. That means we also don\u2019t know if someone who\u2019s been vaccinated can still become a silent carrier and unknowingly infect others.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe important message here is that even if you\u2019ve<a name=\"will-vaccination-become-mandatory\"><\/a> been vaccinated, that\u2019s just a protection for you against severe disease,\u201d Pierre says. \u201cYou need to continue to wear your mask and physically distance because you could still be at risk yourself and put others at risk.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a positive sign that the vaccines are helping to limit the spread of COVID, the CDC has updated its recommendations for what to do following exposure to an infected person, stating that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vaccines\/covid-19\/info-by-product\/clinical-considerations.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">those who have been fully vaccinated do <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> need to quarantine<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Will COVID vaccination become mandatory?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The government is unlikely to mandate universal COVID-19 vaccination, though this could change as we learn more about the disease and the vaccines \u2014 and how they affect us over time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But unvaccinated people could encounter a range of restrictions. For example, airlines could require proof of vaccination for booking or boarding flights.<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eeoc.gov\/wysk\/what-you-should-know-about-covid-19-and-ada-rehabilitation-act-and-other-eeo-laws\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And employers have the right<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to make vaccination a condition of employment, and to fire workers who don\u2019t comply. The only exception, Winslow says, is for those with medical exemptions, says <\/span>Dr. <a href=\"https:\/\/stanfordhealthcare.org\/doctors\/w\/dean-winslow.html\">Dean Winslow,<\/a> an infectious disease physician at Stanford Healthcare in California.\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In that case, an employer would have to make a \u201creasonable accommodation,\u201d such as having that person work remotely, so they could continue to do their job.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep in mind, the goal of this rollout is to vaccinate enough people to achieve<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/coronavirus\/in-depth\/herd-immunity-and-coronavirus\/art-20486808\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">herd immunity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> so we can control the spread of the virus. The percentage of a community that needs to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity is different for every virus. For the coronavirus, Winslow says, the magic number is thought to be about 70 percent. But that\u2019s an educated guess; some experts have put it higher.\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n<a name=\"can-i-stop-wearing-a-mask\"><\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order to return to something like our pre-pandemic lives in the near future, we need to get vaccines into the arms of the vast majority of eligible people.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Can I spend time with older family members or others who\u2019ve been vaccinated even if I haven\u2019t been yet?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If an older relative is vaccinated and eagerly expecting your visit, that\u2019s great \u2014 but don\u2019t let the prospect of a happy reunion lower your guard altogether. Before making travel plans, make sure they\u2019ve been vaccinated for at least two weeks before you see them, says Dr. Chad Sanborn, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at KIDZ Medical Services in West Palm Beach, Florida. He also advises continuing to wear your mask while you\u2019re with them. It\u2019s a good idea for them to ask their doctor about it, too, if that\u2019s feasible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In clinical trials, the Pfizer vaccine showed similar protection in the over-65 and over-75 groups as it did in younger adults. While those results are promising, Sanborn urges caution, particularly if older family members have suppressed immune systems. It\u2019s possible the vaccine won\u2019t be as effective for them. Time and data will tell.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, Sanborn believes we need to see <a name=\"what-happens-if-the-vaccine-runs-out-before-my-second-dose\"><\/a>increased vaccination coverage and decreased COVID infection rates before we start freely gathering with people like it&#8217;s 2019. \u201cWe are still learning the kind of protection the vaccine offers in real life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Can I stop wearing a mask once I&#8217;m vaccinated? What about when I&#8217;m with other people who have been vaccinated?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For now, everyone needs to continue wearing masks and maintaining social distance in public \u2014 whether or not they\u2019re vaccinated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those who have been fully vaccinated, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/fully-vaccinated.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CDC recommends<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> avoiding medium- and large-sized gatherings, but does allow for small gatherings without the need for masks \u2014 either with other fully vaccinated people or with unvaccinated people from <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">one<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> other household, unless anyone from that household is at increased risk for severe COVID illness. And if you do come in contact with someone who has COVID, you do not need to quarantine or get tested (unless you live in a group setting).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However you choose to socialize post-vaccine, be considerate of those not yet eligible for their shots \u2014 and who could still get sick.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cYou have less of a chance of getting sick after getting vaccinated,\u201d says Sanborn. \u201cBut without masks or social distancing, you may actually have a higher chance of acquiring an asymptomatic infection and giving it to others who can&#8217;t receive [the vaccine], or haven\u2019t been vaccinated yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those who are still waiting to get their shots, the loosening restrictions for vaccinated individuals may compound feelings of impatience, but\u00a0they\u2019re a sign of hope. \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It means we\u2019re getting closer to getting vaccinated,\u201d <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">says<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.american.edu\/cas\/faculty\/mhawkins.cfm\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Melissa Hawkins<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an epidemiologist and Director of the Public Health Scholars Program at American University. \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We all need to still wear masks in public places and keep up the always-good practice of frequent handwashing. It\u2019s all about harm reduction. So yes, it\u2019s OK for vaccinated folks to get together and hang out with low-risk unvaccinated people. But I have four kids and will continue to be mindful of my behavior even when my husband and I are vaccinated.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>What happens if my state runs out of the vaccine I received before my second dose of Pfizer or Moderna? Will I only get one? Can I get a second dose of a different vaccine?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is very unlikely you won\u2019t be able to get your second Pfizer or Moderna vaccine dose because of a shortage. The plans for the phased vaccine rollout account for the importance of second doses being available to everyone who needs them. High demand and distribution bottlenecks could mean your second dose is postponed. But delaying the second shot by as much as two weeks won\u2019t affect the vaccine\u2019s efficacy, according to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/world\/live-news\/coronavirus-pandemic-vaccine-updates-01-22-21\/h_8205a4b576151518b75674ec394b10cd\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Anthony Fauci<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the president\u2019s special adviser for the coronavirus<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While health officials have emphasized that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> interchangeable with each other, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vaccines\/covid-19\/info-by-product\/clinical-considerations.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CDC has also said<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that patients can mix vaccines in \u201cexceptional situations.\u201d What constitutes an \u201cexceptional situation\u201d? If, for some reason, there\u2019s no documentation of which vaccine you received the first time, you can get a second dose of whichever is available. Or if it\u2019s time for your second dose and there\u2019s no feasible way to get the vaccine you received within the next three to four weeks, you\u2019d get the other one. \u201cThat would be the rare case of someone who cannot travel and there is no supply for the same dose for a while,\u201d says Zhang. \u201cIt is far more likely and acceptable to wait than to mix vaccines.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To better your chances of getting matching vaccine shots, schedule your appointment for your second shot before or immediately following your first shot. Some sites allow you to do this during your 15-minute post-shot waiting period. Also, be sure to hang on to your vaccine card \u2014 snap a pic with your phone, too, just in case. And if, for some very unusual reason, you can\u2019t get your shot on your appointed day, don\u2019t sweat it: a few days either way isn\u2019t going to impact the vaccine\u2019s efficacy. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Do I need to save my vaccine card? Will I need to show proof of vaccination to work or travel?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you get your first COVID-19 dose, you\u2019ll get a vaccine card. It states which vaccine you receive, as well as the date and vaccination site location. The primary purpose of the card is to help make sure you return for your second dose on schedule. \u201cIt\u2019s a good idea to hold on to the cards for documentation of vaccine status,\u201d Hawkins says<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u201cThough, it&#8217;s not a good idea to post it on social media.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While it\u2019s important to hold onto your vaccination card, it\u2019s unlikely you\u2019ll need it as proof of vaccination for work or travel. Some airlines are introducing digital health passes to ensure that passengers are COVID-free (based on negative test results) and, eventually, vaccinated against the coronavirus, but you won\u2019t have to flash your paper card to board a flight. \u201cThe card you get after the shot won\u2019t be used as a passport,\u201d Zhang says. \u201cI expect another form of proof will come from the CDC or another government agency.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h1 class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"s1\">Ready to book a doctor&#8217;s appointment? Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">Zocdoc.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FAQs about the largest mass-vaccination campaign in US history.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17737,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[227],"tags":[165,149,93,105],"class_list":["post-18961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","tag-covid-vaccine","tag-covid19","tag-public-health","tag-vaccines","reviewer-dr-nassim-assefi"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Your COVID Vaccine Questions, Answered - Guides<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"FAQs about the largest mass-vaccination campaign in US history.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/the-big-covid-vaccine-questions-answered\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Your COVID Vaccine Questions, Answered - 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